Andy Little compares Rangers new boy Gareth McAuley to David Weir

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Rangers have lured defender Gareth McAuley to Ibrox.

Former Rangers striker Andy Little has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he thinks new Gers signing Gareth McAuley can have a similar impact to David Weir.

The Gers had already tied up 14 signings from Steven Gerrard’s arrival as manager until the closure of the summer transfer window on August 31^st, but Gerrard still wanted one more addition.

Even after signing three new centre backs – Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Joe Worrall – there was still room for another centre back, particularly an experienced one to help those younger defenders.

Gerrard subsequently swooped to bring in centre back Gareth McAuley on a free transfer, with the veteran available having been released by West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season.

McAuley, 38, arrives with a wealth of experience to offer, having played more than 200 Premier League games for West Brom whilst also racking up 79 caps for Northern Ireland.

The defender is also a lifelong Rangers fan, and has finally joined his boyhood club until the end of the season, with the very real possibility that he will end his career with the team he loves.

Now, McAuley’s former Northern Ireland teammate Andy Little – a former Rangers striker – has told the Glasgow Evening Times that McAuley could have an impact like former Rangers defender and assistant manager David Weir, who won the title three times with the Gers as a player, or even other former Premier League players like Steven Davis or Carlos Bocanegra.

Little added that McAuley would always ask him about life at Rangers whilst on international duty, and believes the move is perfect both for McAuley personally and for the young defenders at Ibrox.

“Gareth is a really good lad, a brilliant character and a very, very good pro,” said Little. “He would remind me of the likes of Steve Davis, Davie Weir and Carlos Bocanegra. He is a top pro, he has been around the game and considering there are a lot of younger players in the squad, he certainly brings experience at the back. Nikola Katic and Joe Worrall are only 21 and Connor Goldson is not that old either.”

“If Gareth gets his opportunity in there, nothing will faze him and he will know how to handle playing for Rangers. He is a very nice fella and was really good with me. When we met up for international squads, his first question was always ‘what is happening with the Gers?’ It wasn’t ‘how are you’, it was ‘what is happening with the Gers’ so the club is clearly a big part of him and he is a fan, as everyone knows,” he added.